The Bourne Ultimatum | Jacquie Kubin saw, Action | Coming Soon!!
The Bourne Ultimatum
December/09/07 10:52 PM Filed in: Jacquie Kubin
saw | Action
The Bads: Unfortunately, it's the overall plot. Actually, it’s not bad. It was just lost somewhere between London and Spain. Director Paul Greengrass brings us plenty of eye candy, but it just becomes one more explosion, one more broken neck as we wait for the payoff.
(Warning Plot Spoiler)
Julia Stiles character Nicky Parsons immediately draws the viewer in, only it never pays off. Joan Allen, as Pamela Landy, promises to bring forth a powerful, if not predicitable, performance of a woman trapped beneath the glass ceiling, but in the end, she sends a fax.
It was extremely frustrating to watch Nicky, the token damsel that once again opts to unselfishly help Bourne, putting herself into serious harms way leading to the obligatory black hair dye job only to be dropped at the bus station with a cryptic “It gets easier” kind of line as she takes off for a life on the lam from the CIA. That’s it. No kiss. No “I’ll see you later kid,” not even a warm hand squeeze and a thank you.
Then the way the film ends (warning, BIGGER plot spoiler), she no longer needs to be on the run, so I am not sure if her presence in the movie would even serve to create some type of sequel or spin-off opportunity. But it is obvious that beyond saving her from the evil “asset” sent to kill them both, Bourne cares little for her, at least romantically. So why should the viewer?
Her part could have been clipped after her conversation with the CIA Director Vosen and it would not have been missed. Instead we are treated to many minutes of classic “damsel in distress” door banging and staircase climbing only to have Bourne kill yet another man. Really, I get it. Bourne is a trained, albeit reluctant, assassin.
While actors Glenn and Stratharn are well liked for their ability to provide the very serious, in-it-for-themselves at all other costs, type of characters, we are not sure why they are in it. Is it for the power of being able to command others to kill at will? Is it a loosely stated “we need to save America” sentiment?
Or are they just two guys with too much power that are little more than street corner bullies? Who knows. Who cares.
And then there is Jason Bourne – I quit caring about his problems a few moments into the film. While, admittedly, Matt Damon commands the role of the dour faced Bourne with deftness, I see no emotion in this character other than the “I am mad and need to get even” persona he wears so well.
This would have been a time to flash back to his life as a human, versus the machine like assassin he is rebelling against. Instead we are treated to the same series of “before” photos showing him enduring a series of terrifying experiences at the hands of Dr. Albert Hirsch (Albert Finney).
I enjoyed watching the film because it is beautifully created, but the lack of substance in the plot, the many talents left unfurled, the stoic -ness of the film will keep me from coming back. It’s all flash. No substance.
The mandatory extras: A solo, optional commentary track from director Paul Greengrass sheds an enormous amount of light on filming an action movie. Of the four featurettes (also available in a picture in picture commentary), "Man on the Move: Jason Bourne" is best and offers around a 30 minute taste of the behind the scenes fun at each of the film's international locations.
Above and beyond: The Blackbriar Files' overlay offers a mixed media, encyclopedic presentation surrounding the film. Resources include a look at many of the spy gadgets used throughout the film and a breakdown of the fight between Jason Bourne and assassin Desh that bullet points each attack move and the resulting physical damage to each character. A really slick idea that really adds to the value the "Bourne Ultimatum" HD-DVD experience.
Fuel the disc revolution: The Hi-Def version offers a fun little game that has viewers watching 20 separate film clips and then answering a question about it. We played and got 13 out of the 20 questions correct which resulted in our classification as a Paramilitary Operations Officer in the Clandestine Service. This makes us responsible for the organization and execution of intelligence operations in foreign countries.
This classification allows us to conduct missions at a sub station in Zurich, while posing as a French Marketing Executive for your public persona and you have a credit card limit of $60,000. You also get a ski pass and a private sailboat.
However, that’s it. You get the classification, a letter that details what it means, and that’s it. There is no game to play, not even a question and answer scenario. Nothing.
Go back and play again? Same-clips, same-answers. Only this time you know what to look for, so it’s easy to get them right.
— Jacquie Kubin